A nurse anesthetist is a registered nurse who administers anesthesia, monitosr patients during and after administration of anesthesia, and cares for patients during recovery from anesthesia. The position requires a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) designation, and this entails post-graduate education after completion of a bachelor's degree in nursing.

Secondary Education

Four-year nursing degree programs are available for students who pursue a bachelor's degree in nursing immediately after graduating from high school. Registered nurses with associate's degrees in nursing can usually complete the bachelor's degree program in two years. Required high school courses include chemistry and mathematics, and associate level courses must usually include anatomy, microbiology, English composition and psychology. Students are permitted to fulfill these course obligations within the bachelor's degree program or by taking appropriate courses at any college or university.

Bachelor's Degree

Students who begin studying for the bachelor's degree in nursing after high school take two years of typical college courses, such as psychology, sociology and English composition, as well as courses related to nursing. These courses include biology, anatomy and physiology, and introductory nursing courses. The second two years, which students with associate's degrees must also complete, consist of courses in the actual practice of nursing. After completing a bachelor's degree in nursing, students who have not yet obtained state nursing licenses must do so in order to pursue training as nurse anesthetists.

Licensing and Experience

Graduates of bachelor's degree programs in nursing must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses to begin work and gain the experience they need for acceptance into a nurse anesthetist training program. This exam is accepted by all 50 states, and 25 states, including Maine, Texas and Idaho, have agreed to participate in multistate licensing. Some nurse anesthetist training programs require licensing in the state where the programs are located, and all such programs require at least one year of experience as an intensive care unit nurse. A nurse who obtained licensing and gained necessary experience prior to completing a bachelor's degree program can apply to a postgraduate nurse anesthetist program without further experience.

Nurse Anesthetist Programs

Nurse anesthetist programs last two years and grant a master's of science degree in nursing. Typical programs include instruction in preparing patients for anesthesia, as well as administration of anesthesia and monitoring of patients during surgery and recovery from anesthesia. Nurse anesthetist training includes classroom training, as well as actual patient care, and some programs offer additional clinical rotations. After successfully completing a nurse anesthetist training program, a nurse must pass the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists certifying exam to obtain the CRNA qualification and begin practicing as a nurse anesthetist.

About the Author

John DeMerceau is an American expatriate entrepreneur, marketing analyst and Web developer. He now lives and works in southeast Asia, where he creates websites and branding/marketing reports for international clients. DeMerceau graduated from Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts in history.